Genesis 37:4
But his brothers hated Joseph because of their father's partiality. They couldn't say a kind word to him.
This particular passage in Genesis gives us a vivid glimpse into the home of dysfunctional family.
There are many wives.....
There is rivalry between the siblings...
This is a place where the covenant of God cannot be understood or rightly taught.
In our homes, when we shut ourselves in, the truth of what we really believe as to who God is and His claims really comes out.
We need look only to Jacob and his family in Genesis 37 to see a mess.
Family in upheaval...
Brothers that despised the youngest, to the point that they were ready to kill him. A father who played favorites among his sons.
Yet, this very family was to carry the promise of God passed down from Abraham and Isaac.
You see, the truth is that the home is the seedbed of all attitudes toward the biblical God. In other words, the god of our homes is too often not the God of the Bible. Once home behind the closed doors, the real "us" comes out. Not the one we want to project in church or at choir practice. Not the "us" that we want others to see. But it is here....here, in our homes, where we can begin in a relationship with Jesus that will lead us into a life of obedience and joy.
We begin by receiving Jesus not only as Savior, but Lord over our very existence. Then we take our rightful roles within the family.
As men, we take responsibility for our families. Responsibilities that we have discarded for the simple act of being selfish. Instead of expecting others to do for us....to take care of us....we need to become servants to our family.
We need to see the real person in the mirror.
When I look into the mirror, I see what others see.
In my case, an older man......beard that reflects the years I have lived. Wrinkles and crags in my face that show the wear and tear of my life.
But what I need to do is to ask God to let me see that man in the mirror as He sees him. For God does not view us in the same manner that we see ourselves.
II Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel,"Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
What I have discovered (through seeing myself) is that when we aren't giving ourselves to following Jesus, we create for ourselves two belief systems. One that we talk about in public....
And one that we live in private.
One that appears to be righteous and religious and right...we say all the right things....
And one that reveals the true nature of our hearts by our actions and behaviors.
God desires for us to have only one belief system by which we live in this old world.
That belief system would reflect his nature and his desire as we reject the world's directions on how to live, in order to embrace His.
Father...
This day may we allow your Holy Spirit who live in us to direct our minds, our hearts.....our entire life so that we may be pleasing to you.
Give us wisdom and protection from the things of this world that would seek to devour us and destroy us.
In the name of Your Son, Jesus....
Amen
God on you...
mb
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